Victoria West

Three police officers who prevented a man from leaping to his death have been honoured with awards.

Off duty Constable Sam Carroll spotted a man standing on the wrong side of a footbridge that runs over Breakspear Way, Hemel Hempstead, while on his way to work on the afternoon of Sunday, November 2.

He stopped and called police before making his way up to the man.

Temporary Sergeant Andrew Pardy was next on the scene and managed to start a rapport with the man, who had items of clothing tied around his neck that he had secured to the railings, but could not persuade him to get down.

Whilst this had been happening Constable Sam Carroll, 30, now in uniform, had returned to the location to help.

After 70 minutes had passed and without warning, the man stepped off the bridge letting go of the railings.

Officers immediately ran to his aid to pull him back to safety.

Constable Carroll lay on the footbridge and reached through the railings to support the man under the armpits, while Constable Simon Tomaney, 27, leaned over the railings while standing on his colleague’s back and managed to catch hold of an arm.

Sgt Pardy, who lives in Tring, reached through the railings and grabbed the man’s belt. He was pulled back to safety and then taken to hospital.

The three police officers, all based at Hemel Hempstead, were presented with the Royal Humane Society Award during a ceremony at the Herts Police headquarters last Thursday (June 11).

Guest of honour Rev Louis Spring, lead force chaplain, said: “Every day police officers go to work to protect the public, cut crime and make their communities a better place to live and work.

“They have a huge responsibility and it was an honour to be a part of the award ceremony and hear about such acts of kindness and bravery, not only from police officers, but also members of the public as well. The winners are truly inspiring and it shows what we, the human race, can do for each other.